Just 24 hours after former President James Buchanan died on June 1; 1868; the Chicago Tribune rejoiced: "This desolate old man has gone to his grave. No son or daughter is doomed to acknowledge an ancestry from him" Nearly a century and a half later; in 2004; writer Christopher Buckley observed "It is probably just as well that James Buchanan was our only bachelor president. There are no descendants bracing every morning on opening the paper to find another heading announcing: 'Buchanan Once Again Rated Worst President in History'" How to explain such remarkably consistent historical views of the man who turned over a divided and demoralized country to Abraham Lincoln; the same man regarded through the decades by presidential scholars as the worst president in U.S. history? In this exploration of the presidency of James Buchanan; 1857-61; Garry Boulard revisits the 15th President and comes away with a stunning conclusion: Buchanan's performance as the nation's chief executive was even more deplorable and sordid than scholars generally know; making his status as the country's worst president richly deserved. Boulard documents Buchanan's failure to stand up to the slaveholding interests of the South; his indecisiveness in dealing with the secession movement; and his inability to provide leadership during the nation's gravest constitutional crisis. Using the letters of Buchanan; as well as those of more than two dozen political leaders and thinkers of the time; Boulard presents a narrative of a timid and vacillating president whose drift and isolation opened the door to the Civil War. The author of The Expatriation of Franklin Pierce: The Story of a President and the Civil War (iUniverse; 2006); Boulard has reported for the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times and is a business writer for the Albuquerque-based Construction Reporter.
#1213512 in Books Jack Kunkel 2013-01-24Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 10.00 x .44 x 8.00l; .85 #File Name: 1481965484194 pagesA Gettysburg Photo Tour
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Really enjoy looking through this book having been to Gettysburg previsously.By Alfredo SosaI purchased this book because I enjoy looking at pictures of an event taken when the event took place. I developed an interest in looking these historic locations as they appear today after many years of progress and development in that local. When in the area of these historic events; I enjoy looking at these monuments; structures buildings and geographic features to compare them against the pictures in a book. I like knowing that I'm standing in the same location as when history took place. For me; Gettysburg is such an event and looking at the contrast in pictures taken then and now is just very interesting.The next time I go to Gettysburg I will take my new book with me and take my time exploring the many sites that made Gettysburg what it is in out history.14 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Needs ImprovementBy Ranger1087Great concept and the author's narratives and knowledge of the battle and history of the photos are not bad. The gps locations are a nice touch. But I wish he would have presented the photos in a better quality. The author shows some photos on the front and back cover with color modern shots and historic photo inset within - if the entire book would have been presented this way: with glossy pages; color moderns; and better quality historic photo reproductions; this book would have been a homerun. It would have been worth the extra cost. As is - it seems like cheap hard to read copies of someone else's work and I can't recommend it.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Am leaving for Gettysburg in a few days -- will ...By Patricia K.Am leaving for Gettysburg in a few days -- will take the book with me. I amsure it will be invaluable for finding places I haven't been to before.
